McGrath tipped to reveal retirement

A day after refusing to confirm his retirement, Glenn McGrath is expected to announce his departure date at the MCG today. McGrath has called a press conference for 1.10pm local time to "discuss his future plans" and is tipped to follow Shane Warne into Test retirement at his home ground in Sydney.

McGrath, the leading Test wicket-taker with 555, has endured a week of speculation that he will walk away from the international game after the World Cup. Regaining the Ashes at Perth on Monday has meant a number of Australia's senior players have ticked a significant box in their career goals after they were responsible for handing over the urn at The Oval in 2005.

Having returned from an 11-month Test lay-off to start the current series, McGrath opened with 6 for 50 at the Gabba but even though he has produced some crucial spells he has been below his best during the series. Aged 36, McGrath has spent 13 years in the Test set-up after making his debut as a stringbean fast man against New Zealand at Perth.

He started with match figures of 3 for 142 and was immediately dropped and it wasn't until he was part of the first victory in the West Indies for 32 years that he became an essential member of the side. The 1994-95 Caribbean campaign was crucial to McGrath as he refused to be intimidated by the home side's bowlers and fearlessly bounced them despite his limited ability with the bat. Australia sealed the series and McGrath's reputation continued to be enhanced.

Employing a simple action and applying regular check-ups, he was able to nag away with an unrelenting line and pick up kitbags full of wickets with movement off the seam. A shy and calm man off the field, he had no problem firing up when bowling and his behaviour often came under scrutiny. In the West Indies in 2002-03, when he arrived late to the series after his wife Jane was diagnosed with cancer, he had an angry, finger pointing exchange with Ramnaresh Sarwan. He admitted to "carrying on like a pork chop" at times but Australia would not have changed anything about their long-term spearhead.

McGrath passed Dennis Lillee's 355 Test wickets - it was the most famous Australian bowling milestone until Shane Warne overtook it - at The Oval in 2001 and became the country's first fast man to play 100 Tests when he achieved the mark at Nagpur in 2004. It was a particularly satisfying record as he was out for a year with a serious ankle problem requiring two bouts of surgery. He briefly considered retiring and there were questions over whether he could return to his best. It became a regular theme during his career.

Following his long lay-off to care for his family when his wife experienced another relapse of the disease in January, McGrath's comeback ability was doubted again. He started slowly in the Malaysian tri-series and was part of Australia's first Champions Trophy victory in India before re-setting his sights on England.

Supporters in the United Kingdom did not understand the McGrath fuss when he first toured England in 1997 and Australia lost the opening Test at Edgbaston. He stepped in quickly to assure them he was a player of the highest quality. In the rain-ruined second Test at Lord's he was responsible for knocking England over for 77 with his incredible 8 for 38.

Michael Atherton was a victim, one of 19 times in his career, and they were his best figures until he produced 8 for 34, the second-best haul by an Australian, against Pakistan at the WACA in 2004-05. When it comes to wickets he has an almost photographic memory and his removal of the opposition' best players are recalled proudly. Brian Lara was taken 15 times in Tests while Alec Stewart was also high on the list with 10. His comedic 61 against New Zealand two years ago also showed the hours of work he put into his often-ridiculed batting.

McGrath passed Courtney Walsh's world record of 519 wickets during the one-off Super Test against the World XI in 2005-06. It was suitable company for such a wonderful bowler. A country boy from central New South Wales, McGrath has grown from a spindly adolescent who was told he couldn't bowl into one of the most durable fast men in Test history. His record over 122 matches is amazing and will always be treasured.